Sweet Kid

Man, THIS was a wasted day at work. Utterly gorgeous outside, very little to do at the office... these are the days I won't miss when looking back over my career.

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You guys ARE stopping by High Bias once in a while, right? Best music opinions on the web.

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Got this call at home the other night. Someone asked for Kelli by name, and I informed him that she wasn't available. The man identified himself as being with the Dove Foundation, which I'd never heard of. He said his organization was committed to cleaning up the media for families with children.

He then proceeded to ask if I had any children in the house.

Pause.

I asked him again what he was doing, and he said, "This ISN'T a sales call. I just need to know if you have any children in the house."

Me: "I'm not prepared to share that information over the phone."

Him: "Sir, this isn't a sales call. I just need to know if there are children or grandchildren in the house, even once or twice a month, so you can participate in this survey."

Me: "No thanks, I'm not interested in participating in this."

Now, I've since gone online to look up this Dove Foundation, and indeed, they look like a reputable outfit. But (A) I had no idea whether this strange man was really with them and (B) if they're so doggone interested in what's best for kids, shouldn't they realize that a survey in which a man insists that he NEEDS to know whether I have young ones in the house is going to ruffle some feathers?

I have to wonder how many people responded the same way I did.

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My boy Geoff is engaged. Ah, I love to see people in love...

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And here's a plug for the personal jeweler who created Jeff's engagement ring and Kelli's wedding ring. David Miller does fine work, period. When it came time for me to live up to my promise to get Kelli a decent wedding ring for our 10th anniversary, I just couldn't shake the feeling that the symbol of my everlasting love for her wasn't going to be found situated next to Orange Julius in the mall.

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I didn't even go so far as to recommend David to Geoff (verbally at least). He just saw the ring when I was showing it off here one day and sought out David himself when the time came.

In fact, I'd forgotten I ever said that bit about Orange Julius when I showed the ring to Geoff; he reminded me of it not long ago.

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A sweet image from the weekend: THEBOY holding Aunt Amanda's hand on the way into the airport Sunday afternoon. Considering how infrequently he sees members of my side of the family, I'm pleasantly surprised at how warm he usually is towards them. At bedtime Friday night I told him that before he went to bed he could wave good night to Aunt Amanda or give her a hug. He opted for the hug (keep in mind that she'd been there for less than an hour at that point). I take great pride in that boy's affectionate nature.

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Saturday afternoon as he and the baby played in his room, she smacked him in the mouth with a drum stick. His swollen lip looked pretty painful, and he cried for longer than usual. As Kelli tried to comfort him (I didn't catch on quickly enough that my attempts to help were just hindering things...) he sobbed, "I love that baby..."

Sweet kid.

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C'mon 6:30...